Research Article

Impact of Dietary Arginine Supplementation on Hemato-Biochmical, Histological, Antioxidant, and Immunity Variables of Geese under Heat Stress Condition in Egypt

Eman Said El-Hadad*, Hesham Ahmed Madian, Mahmoud A.E. Hassan, Mohamed Fahmy Saad, Abdelghany M. El-Shhat, Entesar Zakaria Eliraqy

Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt.

Received | October 28, 2023; Accepted | January 01, 2024; Published | February 03 2024

*Correspondence | Eman Said El-Hadad, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt; Email: [email protected]

Citation | El-Hadad ES, Madian HA, Hassan MAE, Saad MF, El-Shhat AM, Eliraqy EZ (2024). Impact of dietary arginine supplementation on hemato-biochmical, histological, antioxidant, and immunity variables of geese under heat stress condition in Egypt. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci., 12(3):411-421.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2024/12.3.411.421

ISSN (Online) | 2307-8316

Copyright: 2024 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

INTRODUCTION

Nutritional status has a direct effect on the productivity of farm animals and some nutrients play an important role in controlling the physiological functions of animals (Al-Dabbas et al., 2008). Amino acid such as arginine (AR) has a positive impact on antioxidant status (Wu et al., 2004) and immunity (Wu and Meininger, 2002) of animals. Both D-arginine and L-arginine play important roles in physiological functions, producing nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines in animal body (Kwon et al., 2003), and participate in insulin, glucagon, growth hormone, anti-diuretic hormone synthesis (Soeters et al., 2002). The AR administrations have impacts on heart, lung, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, and liver functions, and also improve animal immune response (Wu et al., 2009).

In poultry, as uricotelic species, AR promotes cell division, hormones secretion, and has different physiological roles (Yuan et al., 2016), and due to it incomplete urea cycle it cannot synthesize AR (D’Amato and Humphrey, 2010). Poultry requires to a dietary supplementation of AR due to insufficient AR synthesis enzymes (Khajali et al., 2013). In laying hens, AR supplements in the diet increased blood NO (Uyanga et al., 2022) and improved the growth and feed efficiency (Najib and Basiouni, 2004; Silva et al., 2012). Also, dietary AR increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in rats (Huang et al., 2009) and immunity in broilers (Perez-Carbajal et al., 2010). In broiler chickens, AR had important role in production of nitric oxide that affects the immune response (Kidd et al., 2001) and high AR level can increase antibody production. In geese, dietary supplementation of AR improved protein metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid profile, and lipid peroxidation (Chen et al., 2023). Moreover, AR can improve hematological parameters in laying hens (Al-Hassani, 2011) and broiler chicken (Al-Daraji and Salih, 2012).

Under the normal condition the requirements of AR in the diet near the NRC recommendation could support the immune system functions. Under heat stress condition in Egypt, the physiological performance of birds was negatively affected by increasing ambient temperature and relative humidity in summer months. The available information about the impaired effects of heat stress or the effect of AR on physiological performance and histological changes in Egyptian geese is rare. Some reports explored the role of AR in eliminating the negative effects of heat stress (Tong and Barbul, 2004).

Therefore, the objective of the current study was to study the possibility of using arginine as a dietary supplementation for Egyptian geese to mitigate heat stress by improving the hematological, protein, and lipid profiles, hepatic and intestinal histogenesis, antioxidant status, and immunity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This experiment was carried out at El-Serw Research Station (Located in North East of the Nile Delta. Dumitta Governorate, 32 latitude N;zero altitude), belonging to Animal Production Research Institute (APRI), Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agricultural and Land Reclamation during the interval from May to July. All handling and management processes of birds in this study were done in accordance with the Directive 2010/63/EU for animal protection that used for scientific purposes (Official Journal of the European Union, 2010).

Climatic condition

During the experimental period, surrounding ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) were recorded to calculate values of temperature-humidity index (THI). Averages ± SD of AT, RH, and THI were 37.72±3.94 oC, 73.44±5.38%, and 93.78, respectively. Throughout the experimental period, the natural photoperiod ranged between 13-14 h light and 10-11 h dark. According to the equation of LPHSI (1990), THI = db - (0.55 - 0.55 RH) (db – 58) Where: db = dry bulb temperature (°F), RH = relative humidity/100. THI values of 72-79 indicate mild heat stress, 79-89 moderate heat stress, and >89 severe heat stress. This indicates that all groups of geese were kept under heat sever stress conditions during the experimental period. Ganders were kept under the natural light during the daytime.

Birds

A total number of 30 sexually mature ganders (local Egyptian male geese strain) at 10 months old and averaged 3.20±0.25 kg body weight was used in this study. The experimental birds were divided into three groups (10 birds/group). Ganders were kept in an intensive system in windowless houses with ten pens (2.5 x 2.5 m2) which were furnished with wood shaving as litter. The experimental ganders were fed ad libitum on a commercial mash diet (15.2% CP and ME of 2690 Kcal/kg) for two months as an experimental period. Drinking water was provided ad-libitum. Ingredient of the basal diet is present in Table 1.

 

Table 1: Ingredients of the basal diet.

Feedstuff	%	Feedstuff	%
Yellow corn	63.00	Calcium carbonate (Ca Co3)	1.80
Soya bean meal (44%)	15.50	Vitamin & minerals mixture	0.30
Wheat bran	17.78	Sodium chloride (Na Cl)	0.30
Di-caphos.	1.25	D.L. Methionine	0.07
Total		100

 

Experimental groups

Three experimental groups in this study included the control group (G1) which was fed on a basal diet without additive, while birds in G2 and G3 were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.2 and 0.4 g L-arginine (99% L-Arginine; HSN: 2922.4990, CAS No: 74-79-3: C6H14N4O2, M.W. 174.20, Loba chemie pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India) per kg diet, respectively. At the end of an experimental period of three months, five ganders were slaughtered for blood collection and histological study.

Evaluating some blood constituents

At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected at slaughter from 5 birds in each group into heparinized tubes. In whole blood samples, hematological parameters including concentration of hemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), red cellular number (RBCs) and white cellular (WBCs) number, mean corpuscular of hemoglobin (MCH), volume (MCV), and hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) as well as percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes were determined by using a veterinary hematology analyzer (Exigo, Boule medical AB., Sweden) according to Helper (1977), Lucas and Jamroz (1961), Eilers (1967), and Wintrobe (1981), respectively.

Blood samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes to obtain blood plasma which was kept at -15˚C until the chemical analysis. Plasma concentrations of total protein, and albumin were estimated according to Henry (1964). However, concentration of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL), urea, and creatinine were determined after the methosds described by Doumas et al. (1997), Richmond (1973), McGowan et al. (1983), Tietz (1987) and Bartles et al. (1972), respectively. All blood biochemical were assayed by spectrophotometer using commercial medical kits (Nanjing Jiancheng Biochemical Reagent Co., China). However, globulin concentration was calculated (Globulin= total protein – albumin). Activities of transaminases (AST and ALT, IU/L) were estimated in blood plasma according to Reitman and Frankel (1957). Levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), (Erel, 2004) and malondialdehyde (MDA), Richard et al. (1992) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), Nishikimi et al. (1972) and catalase (Aebi, 1984) in blood plasma were also measured. ELISA kits (Kamiya Biomedical Company, USA) was used for assaying immunoglobulin concentration of IgG and IgM. Cortisol concentration was determined in blood plasma by Nichols and Nelson (1977).

Histological study

At the end of the experimental period, five ganders from each group were slaughtered, then liver and intestine each gander was isolated from each carcass. The histological samples were taken from the median hepatic lobule and the media region of the small intestine. According to Fischer et al. (2008), small specimens were taken then fixed in 10% neutral formalin for (14-48 h), washed by tap water for 24 h, gradually dehydrated by ethanol (50 up to 100%), cleared, routinely sectioned by microtome at 5-7 μm thickness. The sections were mounted on glass slides, deparaffinized and stained with hematoxyline and eosin to examine by a light microscope. The histological examination was performed using microscope (Swift SW350T) at x400 magnification.

Statistical analysis

Analyses of variance was done by the least square analysis of variance utilizing the General Linear Model Procedure (SAS, 2013). The model was as follows: Yij= μ +Ti + eij Where Yij=any observation of ith bird within jth treatment, μ= overall mean, Ti= effect of ith treatment (i:1-4), eij= random error. Multiple range test (Duncan, 1955) was used to separate the significant differences among means.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Hematological profile

Results in Table 2 show that RBCs count and lymphocyte percent, significantly increased, while neutrophils percent and Neut./Lymph ratio in blood of ganders were decreased by low AR level (G2) as compared to control (G1). However, the higher level of AR (G3) significantly increased Hb concentration, PCV, RBCs count, MCH value, and lymphocyte percent, and significantly decreased WBCs count, neutrophils percent, and Neut./Lymph ratio in comparison with control (G1). However, MCV and MCHC values were not affected significantly by AR supplementation. In accordance with our results in goose, Al-Daraji and Salih (2012) reported that supplementation of dietary AR at a level of 0.06% improved hematological parameters such as RBCs, Hb, PCV, and MCH in blood of broiler chicken.

 

Table 2: Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on hematological parameters of ganders.

Hematological parameters	G1 (Control)	G2 (0.2 g AR)	G3 (0.4 g AR)	SEM	P value
Hemoglobin (g/dl)	12.03b	12.16b	14.10a	0.30	0.0048
PCV (%)	40.73b	40.10b	45.36a	0.47	0.0004
Erythrogram indices
Red blood cells (106/mm3)	3.40c	4.04b	4.73a	0.05	0.0001
MCH (pg/cell)	67.46b	69.70ab	74.00a	1.42	0.0450
MCV (FL/cell)	166.53	171.13	172.1	3.93	0.5926
MCHC (g/dl)	41.97	42.5	42.13	0.67	0.8527
Leukogram indices
White blood cells (103/mm3)	8.36a	7.86ab	7.12b	3.43	0.0106
Neutrophils (%)	26.00a	20.13b	18.33c	1.01	0.0041
Lymphocytes (%)	58.20c	64.03b	73.10a	1.71	0.0024
Neut./Lymph. ratio	0.44a	0.31b	0.25c	0.01	0.0001

 

a, b, and c: Means, within each row with different superscripts are significantly different at P<0.05.

 

In accordance with our results in goose, dietary AR (0.06%) improved RBCs, Hb, PCV, and MCH in blood of broiler chicken (Al-Daraji and Salih, 2012). In laying hens, WBCs count was reported to improve significantly by dietary AR as compared to controls under the normal condition (Al-Hassani, 2011). The observed reduction in WBCs count especially in G3 supplemented with the highest AR level may be due to improving immune response and antioxidant status by AR treatment versus undergoing controls to heat stress. This was proved by increasing percentage of lymphocytes significantly in treatment groups (G2 and G3) compared with control (G1). Also, Liu et al. (2019) reported that AR administration increased the pre-B lymphocytes differentiation, then B lymphocytes was released in bone marrow that promote secretion of immunoglobulins. Moreover, dietary AR (0.30 and 0.60%) can stimulate the lymphocyte proliferation in broilers (Perez-Carbajal et al., 2010).

Protein metabolites

Protein metabolism in terms of concentration of total protein and albumin in blood plasma of ganders were significantly increased by high AR level (G3) only. However, AR supplementation failed to affect plasma globulin concentration or albumin/globulin ratio (Table 3). These results indicated that AR treatment increased plasma total protein in ganders, in terms of increasing albumin, not globulin concentration.

 

Table 3: Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on total protein and their fractions in blood plasma of ganders.

Protein metabolites	G1 (Control)	G2 (0.2 g AR)	G3 (0.4 g AR)	SEM	P value
Total protein (g/dl)	5.40b	5.85b	6.40a	0.07	0.0002
Albumin (g/dl)	3.15c	3.45b	3.85a	0.05	0.0003
Globulin (g/dl)	2.25	2.40	2.55	0.11	0.2738
Albumin/globulin ratio	1.40	1.44	1.51	0.09	0.1437

 

a, b, and c: Significant group differences at P<0.05.

 

In agreement with our results, blood total protein concentration significantly increased by dietary AR in geese (Chen et al., 2023) and in rabbits (Ahmed, 2021). In this context, AR is a major source of N in the body which activates the protein synthesis by stimulation of amino acid-sensitive targets, then effecting on level of protein in the blood (Alimohammadi et al., 2015).

Lipid profile

Lipid profile including concentration of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL in blood plasma of ganders in G2 and G3 were decreased (P<0.05) by both AR levels in comparison with G1 (Table 4).

 

Table 4: Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on lipid profile in blood plasma of ganders.

Lipid type	G1 (Control)	G2 (0.2 g AR)	G3 (0.4 g AR)	SEM	P value
Total cholesterol (mg/dl)	183.0a	162.5b	157.5c	2.04	0.0002
Triglycerides (mg/dl)	111.5a	92.0b	93.0b	2.11	0.0010
LDL (mg/dl)	39.50a	35.50b	33.00c	0.62	0.0009

 

a, b, and c: Means, within each row with different superscripts are significantly different at P<0.05.

 

Our results indicated an important role for AR in improving lipid metabolism by regulation of lipid profile in blood plasma of ganders. In agreement with our results. Chen et al. (2023) found that the concentration of triglyceride in the blood of geese was reduced by AR supplementation. In broiler chickens, Fouad et al. (2013) observed that blood concentration of triglycerides significantly reduced by dietary AR supplementation (0.25 or 1.00%) as compared to controls. This result was proved also in Nile tilapia fish by Li et al. (2020), who observed that dietary AR (1 and 2%) decreased level of triglycerides in the blood with marked reduction in lipid accumulation in liver.

The reduction in level of plasma triglycerides in G2 and G3 may be due to that: (1) AR administration regulates lipid metabolism by the control on fatty acid synthesis and related metabolism enzymes (Li et al. 2020), and (2) NO produced by AR metabolism regulates acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity and inhibits fatty acid synthesis as mentioned by García-Villafranca et al. (2003). These finding indicated that AR administration reduced the metabolic diseases risk of ganders by improving plasma lipid profile.

Kidney function

Plasma concentration of urea and creatinine, were significantly lower in treatment groups (G2 and G3) than in control one (G1), but the lowest values of urea and creatinine were significantly recorded in G3 (Table 5). These results indicated beneficial effects of dietary AR supplementation on kidney function of ganders under heat stress condition. The vital role of AR treatment on kidney function was reported by Wu et al. (2009).

 

Table 5: Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on kidney function markers in blood plasma of ganders.

Plasma biochemicals	G1 (Control)	G2 (0.2 g AR)	G3 (0.4 g AR)	SEM	P value
Urea (mg/dl)	29.50a	26.50b	21.50c	0.86	0.0017
Creatinine (mg/dl)	1.35a	1.17b	1.15b	0.02	0.0023

 

a, b, and c: Means, within each row with different superscripts are significantly different at P<0.05.

 

In heat stressed broilers, blood level of uric acid increased in the blood (Kataria et al., 2008; Dao et al., 2021) due to a reduction in digestion of nitrogen with more degradation of nitrogen to uric acid due to cyclic warm temperature. This was proved in ganders fed diet without AR supplementation. In this context, Hilliar et al. (2019) found more efficient use of the dietary nitrogen and low uric acid level produced by birds fed AR diets, and with potential benefit in heat stressed birds.

Liver function

Liver enzyme activity

In blood plasma of ganders, activity of AST and ALT, as liver function parameter, was reduced (P<0.05) due to AR supplementation either at low or high level. However, AST/ALT ratio was not affected by AR treatment (Table 6).

 

Table 6: Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on activity of transaminases (AST and ALT) in blood plasma of ganders.

Activity	G1 (Control)	G2 (0.2 g AR)	G3 (0.4 g AR)	SEM	P value
AST (U/L)	81.50a	65.00b	61.00c	2.41	0.0021
ALT (U/L)	19.90a	17.85b	16.70b	0.57	0.0208
AST/ALT ratio	4.10	3.64	3.65	0.13	0.1025

 

a, b, and c: Significant group differences at P<0.05.

 

Hepatic histological structure

The histological examination of gander livers in the control group (G1) revealed impaired effects of heat stress on the normality of hepatic architecture. Liver of ganders in the control group showed extensive perivascular leukocytes aggregations infiltrating the hepatic parenchyma (Figure 1A). Marked perivascular hepatic necrosis was also seen in terms of complete loss of hepatic architecture surrounded and invaded with lymphocytes admixed with few macrophages and fibroblasts (Figure 1B). The impaired effects of heat stress on liver histology may be in association with oxidative stress under heat stress conditions.

 

Livers of ganders fed diet with low AR level (G2) showed mild impact on improving the histological structure of the liver, in terms of perivascular focal to coalescing mild lymphocytic aggregations admixed with macrophages (Figure 2).

Increasing AR level in G3 showed restoration of most hepatic architecture with few occasional perivascular lymphocytes, leading to normal architecture of the hepatic lobules with intact arranged hepatocytes and hepatic veins (Figure 3). These findings suggest that the higher AR level may aluminate the impaired effects of heat stress on ganders.

 

 

The reduction in activity of plasma AST and ALT, being significantly lower with high than with low AR level as well as the histological improvements in the hepatic architecture of ganders, being mild with low AR level and the best with high AR level, indicated the beneficial impacts of dietary AR supplementation on a level of 0.4 g/kg on restoring the normal liver function of heat stressed ganders as reported by Wu et al. (2009).

Unfortunately, there are no information of the AR effect on the histological structure of the liver in goose. In contrast to our results, Alabi et al. (2018) observed that the liver of chickens was negatively affected by high or low AR level. AR supplementation at a level of 167 mg/L showed congested vascular spaces, while the liver in those supplemented with 334 mg/L showed congested vascular spaces and periportal mononuclear inflammatory infiltration as examined by Pacher et al. (2007).

Intestinal histology

The histological examination of the gander intestine in the control group (G1) revealed that exposure to heat stress resulted in gander intestine to show focal cellular infiltrates expanded to separate the intestinal crypts (Figure 4A) and multifocal expanded to separate the intestinal crypts and tunica submucosa (Figure 4B). These focal and multifocal were characterized by mucosal and muscular mass aggregations of cellular infiltrates, clearing extensive granulomatous enteritis.

 

 

In gander of G2 fed low AR level showed slight proliferative enteritis represented by focal mild cellular infiltrates separated a marked proliferative crypt (Figure 5A), villus fusion with thickness in of villous lamina epithelialis mucosa, extensive numerous intestinal crypt proliferation, and few or no cellular infiltrates (Figure 5B). These observations revealed that gander fed low AR level exhibited slight enteritis.

Increasing the level of AR in the diet of gander in G3 mitigated the incidence of enteritis and intestine of ganders showed focal apical villus sloughing with mild cellular infiltrates and mild to moderate intestinal crypt proliferation (Figure 6A). Also, AR treatment resulted in restoration or regeneration of most intestinal architecture (Figure 6B).

 

The histological examination indicated impaired effects in heat stressed gander in the control group, eliminated to mild negative effects by low level of AR treatment, and improved by high AR level in the diet of gander. In this respect, Wu et al. (2009) reported that dietary AR supplementation was suggested to have positive impact on gastrointestinal tract.

A normal structure of the small intestinal mucosa is necessary for optimal growth as well as nutrient digestion and absorption (Yao et al., 2012). One of the characteristics of the intestinal villus epithelium is a short proliferation cycle and rapid growth (Sigdestad and Lesher, 1970; Cheng and Leblond, 1974). Villus height and crypt depth affect the efficiency of the intestinal absorptive area. Heat stress has pathological damage on the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, particularly epithelial cells and villus size (Zhangyong et al., 2003). A mild improvement in the intestinal architecture by low AR level and higher improvement by high AR level in heat stressed ganders were observed in our study. AR, as a precursor of polyamines, may stimulate the intestinal mucosa development by acceleration of the mitotic division in the villus-crypt layer (Murakami et al., 2012). Also, AR and its product NO have a role in stimulation of the cell proliferation of the lamina epithelialis (Marc Rhoads and Wu, 2009). Dietary AR improved gut morphology and intestinal nutrient absorption by producing polyamines, increasing cellular mitosis, and/or activation of NO (Khajali et al., 2014; Abdulkarimi et al., 2019). Dietary AR (1.44 or 1.69%) increased height of the villus and villus: crypt ratio, but increasing AR level to 2.19% decreased villus length and height of crypts (Yu et al., 2018). Additionally, some authors reported an improvement in intestinal permeability by AR (Costa et al., 2014; Castro et al., 2020). Finally, AR has the ability to stimulate the development of the intestine (Nie et al., 2018; Martí and Reith, 2021).

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status

Administration of AR at low or high level improved lipid peroxidation by increasing (P<0.05) plasma total antioxidant capacity and activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase), and decreasing (P<0.05) plasma malondialdehyde level. Increasing level of AR from 0.2 to 0.4 g/kg showed more beneficial effects on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity (Table 7).

 

Table 7: Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, immunoglobulins, and cortisol in blood plasma of ganders.

Parameter	G1 (Control)	G2 (0.2 g AR)	G3 (0.4 g AR)	SEM	P value
Lipid peroxidation parameters
TAC (mmol/l)	27.65c	32.65b	36.25a	0.49	0.0001
MDA (nmol/ml)	18.65a	15.35b	13.15c	0.22	0.0001
Antioxidant enzyme
SOD (mg/dl)	36.90c	40.65b	47.85a	1.21	0.0018
Catalase (mg/dl)	228.25c	256.10b	300.50a	5.51	0.0002

 

a, b, and c: Means, within each row with different superscripts are significantly different at P<0.05.

 

The antioxidant defense system in the body included TAC, SOD, and catalase. Lipid peroxidation incidence and the oxidative damage were reflected by MDA level (Luo et al., 2011). SOD has an important role in the protection of the cells from H2O2 damage, and promotes the resistance of disease (Maksimenko, 2005). As reported in our study, SOD activity was improved and MDA level was decreased, while, TAC was not affected by AR treatment in geese (Chen et al., 2023). The activity of antioxidant enzymes was increased and MDA level was decreased in blood of rats (Liang et al., 2018) and geese (Chen et al., 2023) as affected by dietary AR. Also, AR produce NO which decrease oxidative stress by elevating activity of SOD and decreasing MDA level (Dasgupta et al., 2006). The high AR level may suppress the antioxidant activity, and reduces excessive free radical the generation which induces lipid peroxidation then cellular damage (Chen et al., 2023).

 

Table 8: Effect of dietary arginine supplementation on immunoglobulin concentration in blood plasma of gander.

Parameter	G1 (Control)	G2 (0.2 g AR)	G3 (0.4 g AR)	SEM	P value
Immune response
IgG (mg/dl)	30.35c	36.55b	40.90a	0.94	0.0006
IgM (mg/dl)	14.05c	20.20b	27.90a	0.81	0.0001

 

a, b, and c: Means, within each row with different superscripts are significantly different at P<0.05.

 

Immune response

Results in Table 8 show that, both AR levels improved plasma immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) concentration.

In birds, resistance to diseases can reflected by blood immunoglobulin levels which are antibodies having specific binds with antigens (Wu et al., 2021; Chen et al., 2023). IgG has activities against bacteria and viruses to regulate the immune function by agglutinating with antigen and then precipitating it (Wu et al., 2021), so IgG levels can reflect the bird health status and dietary AR improves animal immunity (Wu et al., 2009). In our study, AR treatment increased plasma IgG and IgM levels as found by Chen et al. (2023) in goose treated with AR (0.3%). In broilers, an increase in serum IgM and IgG concentrations occurred by dietary AR (0.30 and 0.60%) as reported by Liu et al. (2019).

AR has an important role in production of NO that influences the immune system of birds under different conditions (Kidd et al., 2001). NO-synthase can catalyze AR to produce NO, leading to an improvement in immune response (Birmani et al., 2019). In this respect, Uyanga et al. (2022) reported a linear response for blood NO level in consistent with AR treatment. A high AR level can force antibody production in broiler chickens (Abdukalykova and Ruiz-Feria, 2006). AR can increase the function of immune system and improve the size of thymus gland (Al-Daraji and Salih, 2012). Also, AR had important role in production of immunoglobulins from metabolites by arginase, and is important for the development of Lymphocyte (Fathi et al., 2017) as proved in our study.

Stress status

Treatment with AR at a level of 0.2 g/kg reduced (P<0.5) plasma concentration of stress hormone cortisol. Increasing level of AR to 0.4 g/kg exhibited further decrease in plasma cortisol level of ganders in G3 (Figure 7).

 

In broilers and chickens, concentration of cortisol significantly elevated under heat stress condition as reported by Soleimani et al. (2011) and Zhang et al. (2019), respectively. Under stress condition, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was stimulated in terms of increasing cortisol level (Eutamene and Bueno, 2007). The reduction in cortisol level is important for the rise in thyroxin concentration in the supplemented groups because elevated concentrations of adrenal cortical hormones are considered to be responsible for hypothyroid activity (Ganong, 2018). In agreement with our results, serum cortisol level was reduced by amino acid mixture in the diet of piglets compared with the controls (Prates et al., 2021). In contrast, Sohail et al. (2010) showed an opposite trend in Hubbard chicks. Based on the previous findings, AR has a role in reducing the stress especially in heat stress (Tong and Barbul, 2004).

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing results, dietary supplementation of arginine at levels of 0.4 g/kg for three months under heat stress condition increased erythrogram and leukogram indices (Lymphocytes), and plasma proteins, improved plasma lipid profile by reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL, maintained liver, kidney, and intestine functions, and enhanced antioxidant status, welfare, and immunity of geese under heat-stress condition in Egypt. The current study recommended L-arginine to be as a dietary additive to improve performance of heat-stressed geese.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors thank all the staff of El-Serw Research Station, belonging to Animal Production Research Institute (APRI), Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agricultural and Land Reclamation for providing geese in this research.

NOVELTY STATEMENT

L-arginine can use in Egyptian male geese treatment as feed additive to mitigate the undesirable effects of heat stress condition during summer season in Egyptian.

AUTHOR’S CONTRIBUTION

All authors were suggested the experimental design and achievement of the experimental work. MAEH and AME-Shhat were conducted the experimental procedures and collected data. HAM, MFS performed the sample preparations and chemical analysis. ESE-H and EZE conducted the statistical analyses and critically revised the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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